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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, (R-11), said he voted in favor of the bill to fend off the fiscal cliff because the legislation "does many good things for a lot of people."

Barletta was among a minority of Republicans who approved the Senate's bill that extends the Bush tax cuts for most Americans but raises tax rates for individuals earning $400,000. "Tonight, I voted for the largest tax cut in American history," Barletta said after voting just before midnight on Tuesday.

The bill, sent over to the House by the Senate earlier in the day, passed by a vote of 257 to 167.

Barletta and House Speaker John Boehner were among the 85 Republicans who supported the bill, which was opposed by 151 GOP members. On the Democratic side, 172 voted yes and 16 opposed the legislation.

"As we approached the fiscal cliff, I said my goal was to get the lowest taxes possible for as many of my constituents as possible, and this bill does that," Barletta said in a statement. "This bill cuts taxes for 99 percent of Americans, and it makes those lower taxes permanent, which means nearly all of my constituents will keep more money in their pockets.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor was among the majority of Republicans who opposed the legislation. Many objected that the bill failed to include spending cuts.

Barletta said Congress must address spending, "but we needed to make sure to provide stability and certainty by stepping back from the fiscal cliff, and this bill does that."

Without the legislation, Barletta said, taxes would go up between $2,000 and $3,000 per person because that would cripple our economy.

While moderates praised Republicans who supported the bill for agreeing to compromise, deficit hawks criticized them.

Americans for Limited Government condemned Barletta today for voting in favor of the legislation. President Bill Wilson "Rep. Barletta's vote is inexplicable and disappointing," ALG president Bill Wilson said.

Barletta said the legislation was necessary. "This bill, while not perfect, does many good things for a lot of people," he said.

"In addition to providing permanent tax relief for 99 percent of American taxpayers, it makes permanent 90 percent of the tax policies enacted in President Bush's term a decade ago, including the capital gains and dividends tax rates for middle-class families. It permanently alters the estate tax, the so-called 'death tax,' so family farms and small businesses aren't crippled after the passing of a loved one."

Barletta said the bill extends for five years the earned income tax credits and other credits used to pay for college and fixes the alternative minimum tax. It also avoids a 27-percent cut in reimbursement to doctors who treat Medicare patients and continues research and experimentation tax credits for businesses.

"This bill also avoids the so-called 'milk cliff' by extending the farm bill through the end of the fiscal year, preventing a dramatic spike in the cost of milk," Barletta added.

It also postpones automatic cuts to defense spending for two months.

"While I'm disappointed this bill does not include spending cuts, this is a tax bill, not a spending bill, so I will fight to cut ridiculous government overspending during the upcoming debate on raising the debt limit," Barletta said.

"At some point, we need to address the root of our problem - the reckless spending. It's time that we take back the credit card from the politicians in Washington. Lowering the tax rates and fixing them permanently is the first step in bringing our country back to fiscal sanity."

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